James Mendrick
James Mendrick (Republican Party) is running for election for Governor of Illinois. He is on the ballot in the Republican primary on March 17, 2026.[source]
Biography
James Mendrick attended Downers Grove South High School and earned a bachelor's degree from Lewis University. His career experience includes working in law enforcement, including as the sheriff of DuPage County.[1][2]
Elections
2026
See also: Illinois gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2026
General election
The primary will occur on March 17, 2026. The general election will occur on November 3, 2026. General election candidates will be added here following the primary.
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Governor of Illinois
Incumbent J.B. Pritzker is running in the Democratic primary for Governor of Illinois on March 17, 2026.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Governor of Illinois
Darren Bailey, Ted Dabrowski, Rick Heidner, and James Mendrick are running in the Republican primary for Governor of Illinois on March 17, 2026.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Joseph Severino (R)
- Max Solomon (R)
- Gregg Moore (R)
Endorsements
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Campaign themes
2026
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
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Campaign website
Mendrick's campaign website stated the following:
Building Safe Communities
- Restoring Law & Order – End reckless soft-on-crime policies, including no-cash bail, to keep criminals off the streets.
- Protecting Families & Neighborhoods – Ensure every Illinois resident feels safe in their home, school, and community.
- Rehabilitating Offenders – Expand successful programs that turn criminals into productive citizens, reducing recidivism.
- Stopping Criminal Illegal Immigrants – Work with ICE to remove criminal migrants from jails before they are released.
- Fighting the Drug Epidemic – Increase law enforcement efforts, strengthen penalties for drug dealers, and keep fentanyl out of our communities.
Balancing the Budget & Growing Our Economy
- Ending Costly Sanctuary Programs – Stop spending billions on illegal migrants and prioritize Illinois taxpayers.
- Auditing Government Waste – Conduct a full review of state agencies to eliminate fraud and inefficiencies.
- Cutting Red Tape for Businesses – Reduce excessive regulation and taxation to attract jobs and investment.
- Investing in Workforce Development – Expand vocational training and apprenticeship programs to prepare Illinoisans for high-quality careers.
Creating Better Schools
- Refocusing on Core Academics – Improve education standards in reading, writing, science, and math to ensure student success.
- Protecting Parental Rights – Give parents a say in their children’s education and curriculum choices.
- Keeping Boys & Girls Separate – Maintain gender-specific bathrooms, locker rooms, and sports teams to protect student privacy and integrity.
- Supporting School Choice – Empower families to choose the best education options, whether public, private, charter, or homeschool.
- Holding Schools Accountable – Implement performance standards to ensure students are receiving a quality education.
— James Mendrick's campaign website (February 18, 2026)
Campaign finance summary
Campaign finance information for this candidate is not yet available from OpenSecrets. That information will be published here once it is available.
See also
2026 Elections
External links
Footnotes
